By Peace Udugba
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed the strategic importance of effective communication in driving institutional reforms, trade facilitation, revenue generation and stakeholder engagement, with its B’Odogwu digital modernisation platform emerging as a key component of its transformation agenda.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, stated this on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, while representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the 13th Annual Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), held at the National Open University of Nigeria in Abuja.
Maiwada stressed that communication was critical to the successful implementation of the Customs Service’s mandate, noting that technological and institutional reforms could only deliver their intended impact when properly communicated to stakeholders.
“Our critical role in trade facilitation, revenue generation and anti-smuggling cannot be effective without effective communication,” he said.
He explained that the NCS had continued to deploy technology and innovative approaches to improve its operations, identifying B’Odogwu as a major component of its digital transformation agenda and an innovative trade model attracting attention beyond Nigeria.
The Customs spokesman also highlighted the Service’s “Town and Gown” initiative, which is aimed at bridging the gap between academic knowledge and professional communication practice.
According to him, the initiative has already commenced at Bayero University, Kano, and in Port Harcourt, with plans to deepen the integration of academia into Customs engagements in 2027.
Maiwada said stronger collaboration with communication scholars and professionals would enable the NCS to benefit from contemporary research, professional expertise and emerging communication technologies, while academic institutions would gain practical insights into Customs operations and institutional communication.
The ACSPN conference brought together communication scholars, professionals and institutional stakeholders to examine the changing communication environment and the implications of emerging technologies for democracy and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his opening remarks, ACSPN President, Professor Rotimi Olatunji, emphasised the importance of informed citizens, credible media and transparent institutions to the sustenance of constitutional democracy.
A keynote presentation delivered on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Sani Adam, also highlighted emerging threats to electoral communication, including deepfakes, AI-generated content and candidate impersonation.
The NCS participation followed an earlier engagement on Monday, August 31, 2026, when the Service hosted the leadership of ACSPN at its National Headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting explored areas of collaboration in digital communication, media engagement, professional development and stronger ties between academia and the Customs Service.
The collaboration continued at the conference through technical sessions on electoral communication and the challenges posed by emerging technologies in the digital age.
The event later culminated in a dinner and award ceremony recognising distinguished contributions to communication scholarship and professional practice.
